BYM Sailing & Sports News

Sailing, watersports and powerboat racing stories from around the world

Italy's Pozzi now controls Melges 32 Worlds

Friday, 28 September 2012

PRO Hank Stuart fired off three more great races at the 2012 Melges 32 World Championship, hosted by the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) on Wednesday. With two more days left to race, the pressure to do well is extremely intense as Bombarda's Andrea Pozzi with tactician Gabriele Benussi sit atop the leaderboard ahead by two. In second overall, is John Kilroy Jr. on Samba Pa Ti who felt the full effects of a great day of successful racing with Paul Goodison on tactics. Ben Schwartz on Pisces with Chris Rast as tactician is now third. Tied in points with Schwartz, seated fourth and fifth respectively is Steve Howe's Warpath and Alec Cutler's Hedgehog.

The day started out with light, challenging and very shifty conditions. With the breeze at only 5-7 knots, every mark rounding meant that the NYYC Race Committee had to work just that much harder to keep up with the ever shifting wind. Japan's Keisuke Suzuki with tactician Jesper Radich on Swing played the shifts just right enabling him to turn up the heat in Race One and establish a massive lead from the get-go. Suzuki lead, then extended throughout the race securing an almost 10-boat length advantage to win over second place finisher Schwartz on Pisces. Pozzi was third.

Kilroy claimed an event milestone as his team currently is the first challenger at Worlds to carry three bullets in their scoreline. With Goodison on tactics, Kilroy came on strong and focused in the second and third race of the day taking both wins, landing him an impressive second place overall, up from yesterday's eighth position.

Pozzi had a great first two races, which ultimately helped him sustain the lead, finishing third and second. Roberto Tomasini Grinover on Robertissima had a nice day to take third in Race Two. Finally, Jason Carroll's Argo Team looked to be back on track as they finished second in Race Six of the championship, followed by Howe in third.

SPECTACLE OF THE DAY GOES TO... Defending Melges 32 World Champion William Douglass showed up on the course today with the most unusual of sailing attire - complete head-to-toe, day-glo orange, skin-tight body suits (with matching shoes nonetheless). Thanks to modern technology, images were quickly posted of the glow-in-the-dark sailors on the class' Facebook page. As one can imagine, the comment meter went off the chart with thoughts and feedback. Check out the absolutely hilarious commentary for yourself at the Official Melges 32 Facebook Page.

ABOUT THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB The New York Yacht Club was formed in 1844 onboard the yacht Gimcrack anchored off the Battery in New York Harbor. The Club's first Cruise was held later that summer bound for Newport, Rhode Island. A year later, the Annual Regatta was begun and the 158th edition was held in 2012. In 1901, the Club's burgee was hoisted over the spectacular beaux-arts style building, designed by Whitney Warren and known for its Model Room and Library, which serves as the Club's home in the heart of Manhattan. Harbour Court, the Club's first permanent waterfront facility commissioned in 1988, overlooks Brenton Cove and Newport Harbor and has become the focal point of many premier regional, national and world sailing championships. The original clubhouse, a small gingerbread trimmed house constructed in 1845 in Hoboken, NJ, now sits on the sloping lawn at Harbour Court. The history and tradition of New York Yacht Club is rich and storied, from winning and defending the America's Cup from 1851 to 1983, to running transatlantic races, cruising, racing, teaching, leading... all distinguished by an enduring passion for yachting. Visit the New York Yacht Club on the web at www.nyyc.org.

ABOUT MELGES Melges Performance Sailboats, the builder of the Melges 32, is the world leader in performance, one design racing. For more than 60 years, Melges has delivered superior-built Scows, Sportboats and Skiffs across the country and around the world. Melges has designed, manufactured and provided continuous customer service and product support unlike anyone else. Now ask yourself, do you believe in speed? Could it be possible to have the luxury of simple sailing that is fun and fast? The answer is without reservation - yes. Signed, sealed, endorsed and delivered by the best, for the best. Visit Melges on the web in the USA, Europe and Australasia.